Certificate of Employment Eligibility | Required documents and points to note when applying
When hiring foreigners, one thing that companies are concerned about is work qualifications. The types of jobs that foreigners can engage in are limited to those permitted by their visa (status of residence), but hiring companies cannot confirm whether the work they are asked to do is within the permitted range. However, if you have a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility", it is possible to determine whether or not you can work.
This time, we will explain the required documents for "Application for Certificate of Employment Eligibility" and points to note when applying.
Cases where a work qualification certificate is required
A "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" is mainly required when foreigners change jobs. The status of residence held by foreign nationals allows them to work in the same company as before changing jobs. Therefore, it is not certain whether you will be able to work at the job you will be doing at your new job. There are cases in which both foreigners and hiring companies take the foreigners lightly and hire them, only to find out that their visas do not actually allow them to work.
When hiring a foreigner, companies are required to check their residence card to confirm their status of residence and period of stay, etc., but it is not possible to determine whether the work is permitted by the visa. If the work content is exactly the same, there will be no problem, but if the scope of work changes even slightly, confirmation will be necessary.
What you can use for this purpose is a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility." A "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" not only proves that you are eligible to work, but also proves that you can work at the hiring company. This is because the company name will be written on the "Certificate of Employment Eligibility." Having a certificate will relieve the anxiety of both foreigners and hiring companies.
Required documents for application for employment qualification certificate
From here, let's take a look at the required documents for the "Application for Employment Eligibility Certificate". Required documents include documents prepared by both the foreign applicant and the hiring company.
Required documents prepared by the applicant (foreigner himself)
| ・Application form for issuance of a certificate of employment status ・Residence card (including an alien registration certificate that is considered a residence card) or special permanent resident certificate (including an alien registration certificate that is considered a special permanent resident certificate) * Application If someone other than a person applies for a certificate of employment eligibility for the applicant, the applicant should carry a copy of the residence card, and the person coming to the agency should bring the applicant's residence card. ・Passport or certificate of residence status ・If you are unable to present your passport or certificate of residence status, a written statement stating the reason. ・Documents to prove your identity (if the application is submitted by an application agent) ・Withholding tax slip (issued by the company before changing jobs) ・Certificate of employment or retirement certificate ・Copy of employment letter (from the new company) ・A copy of the employment contract (from the new company) , a copy of the appointment (from the new company), and a statement of reasons for changing jobs in some cases |
Required documents prepared by the hiring company
| ・A certified copy of the commercial /corporate register (within 3 months of issuance) ・Financial statements for the most recent year (in the case of a new business, a business plan for the next 1 year) ・Company information pamphlet, etc. (with detailed information) ) ・Statement of reasons for employment in some cases |
Points to note when applying for a certificate of employment eligibility
A "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" is not required as a required document when changing jobs. It is up to the foreigner himself/herself whether or not to apply for the grant. A "Certificate of Employment Qualification" is a document that describes the activities permitted by the employment qualification and certifies that you can work at the company. Therefore, disadvantageous treatment of foreign nationals on the basis of not having a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" is not allowed.
Immigration Control Act Article 19-2
No person shall, when employing a foreign national, fail to present or submit the documents set forth in the preceding paragraph if it is clear that the foreign national is engaged in an activity of operating a business that generates income or receives remuneration. No one shall be treated disadvantageously on this basis.
Source: Certificate of Employment Eligibility (Article 19-2 of the Immigration Control Act) “Immigration Services Agency” http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/guide/syuurou.html
Responses that change depending on the time of job change
Depending on the circumstances of your job search, you may not be able to obtain a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" in time. If you are considering applying for a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" after changing jobs, you will need to change your response depending on the visa's period of stay.
If the period of stay is less than 6 months
The period required for issuance of a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" is 1 to 3 months, but there is a possibility that it may take longer due to unforeseen circumstances. To avoid the risk of your visa expiring before the "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" is issued, if your period of stay is less than 6 months, please complete the "Application for Extension of Period of Stay" procedure. At that time, you will state that you have changed jobs, and you will receive permission to extend your period of stay through an examination. However, if it is determined that the work you are doing at your new job is not approved by your visa, you will not be able to renew your term or work.
If the period of stay is 6 months or more
There is sufficient grace period until the certificate is issued, so please apply for the certificate of employment eligibility.
There are benefits to having a work permit
The benefit of a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" is not only that it provides peace of mind for foreign workers and hiring companies. For foreigners who have been issued a "Certificate of Eligibility for Employment", the next visa renewal will proceed smoothly. This is because you have submitted information such as your new job when applying for a certificate of employment eligibility, and the examination has already confirmed that there are no problems with employment.
summary
A "Certificate of Employment Eligibility" brings peace of mind to foreigners and employers when they change jobs. Various documents are required to obtain a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility." Some of the required documents when applying for issuance must be prepared by the foreign applicant and the hiring company, so be sure not to omit any of them.
However, when hiring foreigners, companies must not put them at a disadvantage because they do not have a "Certificate of Employment Eligibility." Depending on when you change jobs, there may be cases where the certificate cannot be issued in time. Please keep in mind that this is a voluntary document.
